Post-hole digger



(No Model.)

W. O. SWITZER.

POST HOLB- BIGGER.

No. 274,531. Patented Mar.'27,1883..

L I Ill u l w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

VVILLIAM C. SVVITZER, OF COMANCHE, TEXAS.

'POST-HOLE DIGG'ER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 274,531, dated March 27, 1883,

Application filed December .2, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. Swrrznn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gomanche, in the county of Comanche and State of Texas, have invented anew and useful Post- Hole Digger, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to post-hole diggers; and it consists in certain improvements in the construction of the same having for their object to produce a convenient, serviceable, and

, tegrally therewith, and extending inwardly,

nnitingat the center, so as to form a shank, D.

E is a shaft consisting of an ordinary gaspipe connected to shank D by a sleeve or coupling, F, and having at its upper end a top or casting, G, formed with an eye, H, in which is fitted the transverse cross-bar or handle I, by which the device is in practice manipulated.

The ring or casting B is provided in its outer surface with a series of, say, three vertical 7 dovetailed recesses or grooves, J, to receive the upper ends of the cntting hladcs 'K, which are secured in place by means of bolts L, the

heads of which, M, are countersunk in and flush with the outer sides of said blades, while the nuts N are tightened upon the inner side of the ring B.

The blades or cutters K, which are segmental in horizontal cross-section, are extended downward] y fora suitable dista nee, forminga basket, 0. The edges of the blades are sharpened, and their lower ends are turned or curved slightly spirally in an inwarddirection until their points nearly meet.

The operation of my invention will be read ily understood. By placing the digger in an upright position upon the ground and giving it, by means of the handle I, a rotary movement, it is caused to dig or bore a hole, the dirt falling into the basket-like receptacle formed by the blades, by which it may be readily lifted out. The construction of the device is simple, and the blades may be readily removed for sharpening.

I claim as my invention- In a post-hole digger, the combination of the head, consisting of a ring having vertical dovetailed recesses to receive the blades or cutters, and provided with converging arms'unitin g so as to form a shank, a shaft connected to said shank, a top piece having a transverse opening or, eye, and a cross-bar or handle fitted in the latter, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afli xed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

I WILLIAM C. SWITZER.

Witnesses:

MILTON BRGWN, B. H. CARR. 

